Improvements in Your Home You'll Need to Make As It Ages

As homes get older, they gain a certain charm. Years of memories and worn-in usage gives an older home a smooth and gentle polish that makes it feel lived-in and homey even when it's empty. But older homes also have older materials, dated looks, and often lack the usefulness you might need in your home. Fortunately, you can make improvements to totally change all that.

Paint or Wallpaper

Whether the walls were painted in a glossy or matte finish or had wallpaper smoothly pasted in place, eventually it begins to fade. There may be some spots that are more faded than others where pictures and other things were hanging as the sun offered it warms rays. On top of that, certain paint colors and wallpaper patterns start to look dated after a few years (or decades) have passed. Updating your home's walls with fresh paint or new wallpaper can take years off its age.

Windows

A window replacement is a very common improvement in older homes. You might choose to replace them for aesthetics, to let more light in, or to make them more energy-efficient. If your home is much older, replacing them with newer energy-efficient ones may be a priority so you can decrease your energy bills.

Heating or Cooling Systems

Depending on the exact age of your home, at some point you'll need to replace or upgrade the heating or cooling systems. Whether it's changing a coal furnace in an old home to something more modern or simply replacing an air conditioning unit that was installed 20 years ago, these systems will need attention. The good news is these expensive improvements often decrease your energy bills and last for decades.

Switches, Outlets, Plates, and Fixtures

As the years pass, homeowners make home repairs as needed. Swapping out switches, outlets, plates, and light fixtures as they need to be replaced usually results in a house having a variety of shapes and styles. Ones that aren't replaced or updated can end up yellowing or being painted over. Taking the time to replace all the switches, outlets, plates, and fixtures to match (or at least create a pleasing complementary look) can make you more comfortable in your home. Hiring an electrician to do it can also help uncover any hidden electrical problems you might need to address.

As your home ages, it needs attention just as your own aging body does. And if you bought an older home to begin with, it's important to keep an eye on things from the beginning. Set aside money a little at a time so you're prepared for the expense of eventual improvements. Your home, and the sense of peace you feel inside it, will appreciate it.

The Most Common Summer AC Problems and How You Can Fix

As summer approaches, you’re going to want to ensure your air conditioner is working optimally to stave off the next heat wave. If you’ve turned on your unit to find it not working properly, you’re going to want to check to ensure it’s not an easily fixable problem before you call out the help of an expensive professional. Here are a few culprits to your malfunctioning air conditioner that you can possibly identify and fix yourself before you shell out hundreds of dollars for professional help. Not doing regular check-ups on your unit is one of the many mistakes you’re probably making when it comes to your AC.

Many of the AC’s vital components, by the nature of chemical reactions, do have a limited shelf life so it is important to regularly get an HVAC technician to give your systems a check-up every now and then before these components fail. 

If your air conditioner runs but blows hot air...

Check your filters

Dust and dirt are detrimental to the efficiency and performance of your electrical appliance. Filters capture dust before it can travel to your system’s interior components while allowing your HVAC system to better circulate air. According to ENERGY STAR, you should check on the state of your filters on roughly a monthly basis. 

First, find where your AC filters are located—this could be by an air duct or even by the furnace. Get the correct-sized filters for your system from your local hardware store. Turn off the power and replace or clean the filter depending on if it’s disposable (cardboard frame) or reusable (metallic frame). Ensure your filter is replaced in the correct direction.

Check your coils

Your air conditioner depends on a set of coils—heating coils and condenser coils- to absorb heat within your home and transfer it outside. Dust is an effective insulator, meaning it holds on to heat and prevents it from being moved efficiently. As stated, even a light layer of dust on your coils reduces the efficiency of your AC by capturing the heat that you’re attempting to clear away. Every now and again, it’s important to turn off the unit and go over it with a stiff brush. Also be sure to clear away any debris, shrubbery and dirt on the exterior unit to keep it running optimally.

If your air conditioner doesn’t turn on...

Check the breaker/fuse

Yep, it could be that simple. Whenever any large appliance fails, it could simply be your home’s safety apparatuses kicking in. Save yourself the embarrassment and several hundred dollars and quickly check breaker panel to see if the circuit has been switched off. If it is, sometimes it can simply be switched back on.

If you notice that the appliance repeatedly trips the breaker, check if your circuits are overloaded. This is simply a test of turning on your air conditioner and other appliances plugged into the same circuit one at a time to see how many can run at once. If your AC and other individual appliances run on their own but trips once they’re used simultaneously, then it’s a sign that you just need to run fewer things alongside it. This inconvenience generally seems to be a problem in older households and, apart from adapting to this limitation, a permanent solution will require the help of an electrician to add additional circuits to your home.

If switching on the breaker still doesn’t turn on the circuit, check to see if you’ve blown a fuse. Fuses are glass ampules that contain a wire designed to melt when overheated. When the amperage is too high it breaks the circuit to prevent a fire. Fuse boxes are typically, though not always, found in the utility area by the breaker panel. If you notice a broken, discoloured or cloudy ampule, it’s been blown. First, unplug all electrical appliances on the circuit, as restoring power once the new fuse has been installed risks creating a power surge that will blow it out again. Then turn the power off from the circuit panel to eliminate the risk of shock. From there, just purchase a new fuse from your local hardware store, take the old one with you just to be sure you’re getting an identical replacement and install the new fuse.

However, if you find that running the AC alone trips the breaker, then that indicates a short circuit inside your unit. At risk of fire or electric shock it is not safe to use until repaired by a professional.

Check the thermostat

It’s the job of your thermostat to measure the temperature and signal to your furnace or air conditioner to kick in if it gets below or above a certain threshold. Fortunately, if your thermostat malfunctions, repairs are minor and can easily be fixed by yourself. Sometimes it’s as simple as replacing the backup AA or AAA batteries. 

First, turn off power to the thermostat before removing the thermostat face. Despite the low voltage that most (but not all) thermostats use, improper handling can still result in shock. While fiddling with the thermostat, remember to also clear away any dust that has collected on the system, as this also prevents it from functioning properly.

Check the drain line

Finally, the pipe that drains water from the condenser unit may be clogged. This tends to happen overtime, as algae or other gunk is allowed to build up and another safety mechanism kicks in to ensure that water doesn’t flood into the system. Turn off your HVAC system and gather a pair of rubber gloves, bleach and water, a wire brush and a wet-dry vacuum. Locate the drain pipe outside by the condenser unit and— with gloves on—insert the wire brush to dislodge any debris. Be sure to do this on both ends of the pipe (the top end will be a T-shaped PVC with a cap on it). Then, run the wet-dry vacuum on the pipe for a minute or two. Afterwards, mix equal parts bleach and water and pour it through the top of the pipe.

Why You Should Call Beekeepers Instead of Exterminators

If you have children or pets, finding a beehive can be extremely troubling. If you don’t remove the hive, bees can cause major damage to your home or continue to grow as a colony and pose a risk to your family’s health.

Your first impulse might be to pick up the phone and call your local exterminator, but this could be a major mistake. To learn more about why you should call beekeepers instead of exterminators, continue reading below.

Beekeepers will relocate the bees rather than kill them.

When most people need hives removed from their homes, they often don’t consider relocation versus pest control. However, choosing to relocate the bees rather than exterminate them is a highly impactful decision. When exterminators use chemicals to kill bees and break up hives, they kill a vital part of our ecosystem. Bees are some of the most significant pollinators on the planet, which means killing them is highly damaging to our gardens and our environment.

Instead, call a beekeeper to relocate the hive from your home to a new, safer location. Beekeepers are skilled at effectively removing bees from homes without killing or damaging sections of the hive. Beekeepers will transport hives to areas where they will be undisturbed while they continue pollinating.

Beekeepers can extract honey from hives.

Having a beehive in your home or backyard may feel like a curse, but bees can also offer you a delicious and beneficial gift: honey. Beekeepers are experts at safely extracting honey from beehives, and they can easily prepare this honey for consumption.

If you’ve never tasted raw, unfiltered organic honey, you’re in for a sweet treat. This syrup is intensely sweet, and you can use it for recipes, skin care masks, and home remedies.

Beekeepers use smokers, not chemicals.

<p>If you worry about the chemicals exterminators use to kill pests, then you’ll be happy to know that beekeepers avoid foreign chemicals altogether. Instead of spraying toxic mixtures at bees, beekeepers use beehive smokers to keep bees calm while they’re being extracted. These smokers emit small puffs of burning smoke from standard oil fuel to cover the alarm pheromones that bees send out during inspections. Beekeepers mostly use smokers if hives are more aggressive. These smokers are highly safe compared to most pest control chemicals.

Although finding a beehive in your home or backyard may be frightening, remember the reasons why you should call beekeepers instead of exterminators Beekeepers will successfully remove the bees from your home just as effectively as exterminators. However, beekeepers will also relocate the bees so that they can continue to live prosperous lives in our ecosystem.

How to make your new place feel like Home

Moving into a new house is a very exciting but demanding process. The good news is you're getting a fresh start at a brand new place. However, the transition from your old house to the new one can be a bit difficult. It usually takes some time to get used to it. That's why many people don't feel at home right away. Luckily, there are a few things you can do in order to make this transition easier. So, let's take a look at some fun and simple ideas that will help you make your new place feel like home as soon as possible!

Clean and Paint

The first step in making your new place feel like home is cleaning it thoroughly. You don't want to start decorating a filthy space. It won't feel or look good. That's why it's time to scrub your new house from top to bottom. Wash and wax the floors, steam the carpets, clean all the surfaces in the house, including windows and doors. A clean place is a happy place!

Additionally, if you can, paint all the walls in the house. The fresh coat of paint will definitely revive the space. You can even gather your friends and family and make it a fun DIY home project. Play with the color palette and make the wall your canvas. In the end, you'll get a fresh new place ready to be filled with all your favorite stuff!

Unpack

Living out of boxes after you've moved into your new house is not a way to live comfortably. Also, you will never feel at home if you live like this. So, after you did a proper cleaning and painted all the walls, it's time to start unpacking. If you have a problem with where to begin, we recommend starting with the rooms you use the most. That can be bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living room. Try to do two rooms at a time to finish as soon as possible. If you have troubles during this process, you can ask the moving crew from Simplify Valet Storage & Moving for some expert advice on unpacking or even hire professional help.

Start with one room

Once you move into your new house, it will take some time before you make it just the way you imagined it. This means it's practically impossible to remodel everything at the same time. So, pick the room at the house everybody loves and uses the most and start there. If you live with a partner, that can be your bedroom. If you have kids, that can be their room or a playroom. And, if you live alone, that can be a cozy reading nook. Whichever room it is, it's important to make it your own. Display some of your favorite things here and make it a space you look forward to after a long day at work. This is one of the most critical steps of making your new place feel like home.

Make your new place feel like home by hanging family photos and artwork

One of the best ways to turn your new house into a home is by personalizing the space. The simplest way to do this is by hanging all your dearest family photos and favorite artwork. If you have children, display some of their drawings on the fridge. If you want to make it more personal, you can even make the frames yourself. Don't forget about memorabilia and all the other little thing from your old house that made you happy. Find the place in your new house for them as well. This is a great way to add a personal touch to your new place and make it feel like home.

Make it cozy 

In order to make your new place feel like home, you have to give it that homey vibe. You can do that by increasing the comfort in the house. Firstly, add some cozy cushions and pillows. Choose the style you like and put them on the sofa, armchairs, and bed. Secondly, green up your space, as you can never go wrong with putting a few plants in the corners of every room. This will freshen up the space and make it more inviting. Finally, accessorize! Empty space is rarely homey. So, make sure to add some fun decor such as vases, mirrors, clocks, colorful rugs, bowls, etc.

Invite friends and family to a housewarming party

Family and friends play a big part in making your new house feel like home. Spending time with them at your new place can give it that cozy atmosphere every real home has. So, invite them over to a housewarming party! Make them feel like they're at home in order to feel like that yourself. The sooner you start creating new memories in this house, the sooner it will become your home!

Keep your belongings safe during this process

Besides thinking about how to make your new house feel like home, you should also think about where to store your stuff while remodeling. The best way to keep your belongings safe during the project is to rent a storage unit. Rely on professionals in this situation and let them take care of all your stuff properly. So, don't hesitate to contact a local moving company and ask them what storage services they offer. You will probably be able to choose the size and type of storage unit you're renting. The important thing is, your belongings will be safe and sound and ready to be picked up whenever you need them!

Take your time...

Whether you like it or not, making your new place feel like home takes time. It's not something that happens overnight. So, don't rush anything; this is an emotional transition as much as it is physical. Take your time choosing all the details that will make you feel comfortable and at peace in your new home. They say home is where the heart is, so put a piece of your heart into your house every day and, eventually, it will feel like home.